The Hindu : Argyle & Smith take lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 12, 2003

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

Argyle & Smith take lead

By Sanjay Rajan

ROTORUA (New Zealand) JULY 11. Knowledge of the existing conditions always presents an advantage in sport, more so in rallying. And when it is comes to Motu, considered one of the most challenging special stages encountered by even World Rally drivers, it helps if you have done it before.

On this count alone, home drivers have an edge. But then, the likes of Malaysian Karamjit Singh of Proton Pert, Italian Nico Caldarola and Japanese Fumio Nutahara are as comfortable with Motu as, say, leading Kiwi driver Geoff Argyle, for the sheer number of times they have challenged it over the years. In fact, Karamjit has been the fastest on the stage in recent times.

The opening day of the three-day Hella Battery Town Rally of Rotorua, the second round of the Asia Pacific Rally championship for cars 2003, here, on Friday revolved around Motu. For Motu, split into two sections of 20 and 27 kilometres with a 1.32 kilometre liaison in between, formed two of the day's four stages. And better timing on them was always going to be a bonus.

Argyle (co-driver Steve Smith), in a Group-A (modified) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6.5, emerged the leader at the end of leg-one in both APRC overall and the championship as such (the New Zealand Rally championship is being run concurrently).

But it was Nutahara (Satoshi Hayashi), in a Group-N Evo7, and Caldarola (Paolo Cecchini), also in a Group-N Evo7, who recorded the best timings in Motu-1 and Motu-2, respectively. Argyle made up by topping the final two stages and now holds a near 20-second lead over Nutahara in APRC overall.

They are followed by Karamjit, Caldarola, Kiwi Andrew Hawkeswood (Paul Fallon, Group-N Evo6.5) and Team MRF Tyres' German driver Armin Kremer (Fred Berssen, in a Group-N Evo7) in that order.

Nutahara leads the APRC Group-N category, followed by Caldarola, Kremer and Team MRF Tyres other driver Austrian David Doppelreiter (Ola Floene, also in an Evo7).

Defending champion Karamjit, in a borrowed Evo7 and not his usual factory-backed Proton Pert, said he had serious brake problems.

"As soon as I touched the brakes it locked up. So I wasn't attacking, was just driving around," said the Malaysian of Indian origin.

Nutahara said the final two stages had been very slippery and that there was no traction (it had rained the previous night)."

Kremer, winner of the opening round in Canberra (Australia), said he had suspension problems in the first two stages. "We changed the springs at service. The final two stages were better. Very slippery I thought. It is my first time here and need to be careful. Tomorrow is a long day," said the German, a former European champion.

Doppelreiter, who was third in APRC Group-N in Canberra, felt Motu was slippery. "Gets difficult to maintain a good pace. I'm happy that I have not made any mistake so far. My focus is on finishing the rally," said he Austrian.

Provisional results (Day-one): APRC overall: 1. Geoff Argyle & Steve Smith (NZ), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6, Gr.-A, 1:21:07.5; 2. Fumio Nutahara & Satoshi Hayashi (Jpn), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7, N-4, 1:21:27.8; 3. Karamjit Singh & Allen Oh (Mal), Proton Pert, Gr.-A, 1:21:54.6; 4, Nico Caldarola & Paolo Cecchini (Ita), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7, Gr.-N, 1:22:20.4; 5. Andrew Hawkeswood & Paul Fallon (NZ), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6, Gr.-A, 1:22:38.2; 6. Armin Kremer & Fred Berssen (Ger, Team MRF Tyres), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7, Gr.-N, 1:23:03.6.

APRC Group-N: 1. Fumio Nutahara & Satoshi Hayashi; 2. Nico Calderola & Paolo Cecchini; 3. Armin Kremer & Fred Berssen; 4. David Doppelreiter (Ger) & Ola Floene (Nor) (Team MRF Tyres), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7, Gr.-N, 1:25:33.0.

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